Grisanti, Peoples-Stokes, DPCC, Buffalo ReformEd, community leaders call on Assembly to vote on legislation to reform City of Buffalo public schools

by jmaloni

Press release

Fri, Jun 14th 2013 04:45 pm

Two
pieces of legislation sponsored by Grisanti need Assembly approval
before they can become law

State
Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-I-60, was joined today by representatives of
the District Parent Coordinating Council, Buffalo ReformEd, and other
community leaders to urge the State Assembly to act on two pieces of
legislation that he said would increase parents' involvement and save
taxpayers money in the City of Buffalo.

Bill
S. 868
calls for moving the election of members of the City of Buffalo
School Board from May to November, a measure that will improve voter
turnout and save taxpayers more than $100,000 by consolidating
elections. The legislation also calls for extending the terms of
current members of the Buffalo School Board to the last day of
December rather than June, allowing for future terms of office to run
from January through December.

Bill
S. 1044
requires the City of Buffalo's board of education to submit its
annual school district budget to voters for approval prior to final
adoption of the spending plan. Grisanti said he believes encouraging
more people to vote will allow special interest groups to have less
influence over the day-to-day business of the city's school system.

In
the City of Buffalo, nearly one-half of the property tax levy is
allocated to the school district, but local residents have no direct
input on the annual budget, unlike suburban districts. Buffalo is one
of five school districts in the state that does not hold an annual
vote on a proposed budget.

The
recent passage of Senate bills S.868 and S.1044, both sponsored by
Grisanti, are in hopes of improving the quality of education
currently offered to students who attend public school in the City of
Buffalo and increase parental involvement.

"I
am proud to stand here with concerned parents of students who attend
Buffalo Public Schools because we all recognize the need to improve
the quality of education that our children are receiving," Grisanti
said. "Their futures are at stake so we need to do whatever is
possible to get more people involved so we can work together with
district officials and other stakeholders towards a common goal of
improving the educational opportunities provided to our children."

Assemblywoman
Crystal Peoples-Stokes, D-141, said, "Parent
engagement is the key for future student success. The more parents
that are allowed opportunities to have a role in their children's
academic life, the richer their student experience will be."

Janique
S. Curry, a former Buffalo School Board member and chair of the
legislative committee for the DPCC, said, "As
a former Buffalo School Board member and current chair of the
legislative committee for the District Parent Coordinating Council,
(I say) these pieces of legislation are crucial to the future of our
children's education. I am encouraged by the efforts of Sen. Grisanti
and the New York State Senate for passing both bills. It is now time
for the Assembly to bring both of these bills up for a vote."

Hannya
Boulos, executive director of Buffalo ReformEd, said, "Sen.
Grisanti recognizes the importance of increasing our community's
input into the way our schools are governed and funded. This
legislation will increase voter turnout in school board elections,
decrease the impact of special interests in board elections, and give
parents and community members a real seat at the table."

The
2013 legislative session is scheduled to end on Thursday, June 20. If
these bills are not passed by then, the legislation would need to be
re-introduced in 2014.

"I
urge my constituents to call, email and write letters so that their
representatives in the Assembly understand how important this is to
our children's future," Grisanti said. "We need this
legislation passed before the State Legislature's session calendar
ends for 2013. Let them know you want action. We need the Assembly to
bring the two bills to the floor and put it up for a vote."